american Guinea hogs
American Guinea Hogs have been a good farmstead hog for many generations of American farmers in the south. Originally from Africa, this breed is a melting pot of sorts, having been crossed with other now-extinct breeds such as the Improved Essex, and it may be the foundation stock for commercial breeds such as the Duroc. They were the typical farm hog seen around American farms for years, thriving on kitchen scraps, foraging around the farm, and hay.
Guinea Hogs are generally black, but blue or red hogs are sometimes noted, and white points (feet, noses) are also sometimes seen. As adults, these hogs weigh approximately 250-350 lbs, depending on age and gender; it generally takes about a year for a guinea hog to reach processing size. These are lard hogs, meaning they produce a more marbled meat and produce more lard, making them ideal for home production of cooking oils, soap fats and other uses on the farm. Because of the marbling, their meat is more tender and juicy than the typical commercial breed of hog; however, the breed nearly became extinct when lard fell out of disfavor in the American diet and when commercial hog producers wanted a faster growing, larger hog breed. Just 11 known founder hogs now have approximately 5000 registered offspring as of 2014.
American Guinea Hogs also will eat hay and thrive on little feed; our hogs use only one bag of commercial swine ration a month and eat the same hay we feed the horses and goats. They are also good at grazing and foraging. This means we can raise them on pasture and in the woods, which minimizes feed costs, produces a better quality meat and allows them to live in a natural environment.
They have very minimal health concerns, and generally this breed does not require iron injections, vaccines and deworming if raised in a natural environment. They tend to be good to excellent mothers.
These hogs are generally very gentle and even affectionate to their caretakers. An aggressive hog could not be tolerated on the farms of old, so the mean ones were usually culled. This has left us with pigs with lovely personalities. Ours will lay down to beg for a belly rub!
We produce breeding quality registered stock as well as feeder piglets and have a few available for purchase periodically. Feeders are all barrows; we keep feeder quality gilts for our use, and any intact boars or gilts will be sold as AGHA registered stock. We may have proven adult breeding stock available once in a while. Price will vary by season and availability.
We also can raise a feeder piglet for you and then deliver to the processor for you; you will need to make all arrangements with the processor for cuts and for payment. You only pay us for the piglet and for boarding. Prices and availability are season dependent and can be obtained by contacting us.
We may sometimes have a feeder hog you can purchase "on the hoof" by the pound and take to your processor or have us deliver. We may be able to provide fed-out hogs for your high quality restaurant or charcuterie. Contact us with your needs, and we will see if we can meet them!
Unfortunately, due to state law, we cannot sell individual cuts of meat or pick up a hog after processing and deliver to you.
Guinea Hogs are generally black, but blue or red hogs are sometimes noted, and white points (feet, noses) are also sometimes seen. As adults, these hogs weigh approximately 250-350 lbs, depending on age and gender; it generally takes about a year for a guinea hog to reach processing size. These are lard hogs, meaning they produce a more marbled meat and produce more lard, making them ideal for home production of cooking oils, soap fats and other uses on the farm. Because of the marbling, their meat is more tender and juicy than the typical commercial breed of hog; however, the breed nearly became extinct when lard fell out of disfavor in the American diet and when commercial hog producers wanted a faster growing, larger hog breed. Just 11 known founder hogs now have approximately 5000 registered offspring as of 2014.
American Guinea Hogs also will eat hay and thrive on little feed; our hogs use only one bag of commercial swine ration a month and eat the same hay we feed the horses and goats. They are also good at grazing and foraging. This means we can raise them on pasture and in the woods, which minimizes feed costs, produces a better quality meat and allows them to live in a natural environment.
They have very minimal health concerns, and generally this breed does not require iron injections, vaccines and deworming if raised in a natural environment. They tend to be good to excellent mothers.
These hogs are generally very gentle and even affectionate to their caretakers. An aggressive hog could not be tolerated on the farms of old, so the mean ones were usually culled. This has left us with pigs with lovely personalities. Ours will lay down to beg for a belly rub!
We produce breeding quality registered stock as well as feeder piglets and have a few available for purchase periodically. Feeders are all barrows; we keep feeder quality gilts for our use, and any intact boars or gilts will be sold as AGHA registered stock. We may have proven adult breeding stock available once in a while. Price will vary by season and availability.
We also can raise a feeder piglet for you and then deliver to the processor for you; you will need to make all arrangements with the processor for cuts and for payment. You only pay us for the piglet and for boarding. Prices and availability are season dependent and can be obtained by contacting us.
We may sometimes have a feeder hog you can purchase "on the hoof" by the pound and take to your processor or have us deliver. We may be able to provide fed-out hogs for your high quality restaurant or charcuterie. Contact us with your needs, and we will see if we can meet them!
Unfortunately, due to state law, we cannot sell individual cuts of meat or pick up a hog after processing and deliver to you.
Our boar, MVF Dagwood, originates from Mountain View Farm in Virginia. A cheerful, sweet guy who loves to be scratched and petted, he is well balanced and has grown well for his age. Piggers is a good outcross for Flint and Steel bloodlines and could also be a good choice for line breeding Skyfire hogs, a bloodline not often seen here in the mid-Atlantic area, and Setty lines. As with most AGH, he could use improvement to his legs, especially the rear legs, and pasterns.
Our gilts are sisters, originating from Sunny Knolls Eco Farms lines. Known for fast and efficient growth, the girls epitomize what these lines do...grow and have exceptional shoulders. They are long, which bodes well for larger litters of piglets, and both have 12 nipples. Arizona is rather standoffish but definitely rules the roost, Georgia is one to love belly rubs and will flop down next to you and take a nap! Their mother has been a successful and prolific sow, and they show every indication of following in her footsteps.
Georgia produced a litter of six strapping boarlets on July 12, 2015. Litter registration is pending, as well as determination of which one(s) to keep intact and which to sell as feeders. We have already had some interest!
Georgia produced a litter of six strapping boarlets on July 12, 2015. Litter registration is pending, as well as determination of which one(s) to keep intact and which to sell as feeders. We have already had some interest!
A third gilt was added this spring during a trip to the upper Northeast US. Bred by Badflash Farm, Badflash Edith will be a great addition to our herd. She shares one bloodline as some of her ancestors originate from Flint and Steel Farm, but the grandparents are different. A long girl, she bodes well to produce large litters with a low coefficient of inbreeding when crossed with our boar. She is very solid for her age and has an excellent disposition. We are also considering crossing her with a boar recently imported to MD from KY and owned by a close friend and fellow breeder.